Walkstation
Encyclopedia
A walkstation is a portable music synthesizer
that can often be programmed with various musical sequences.
Typically walkstations are small battery powered units with small size keys that are ideal for the smaller hands of young children. For example, the MU15 has a keyboard with keys that are approximately 6 mm apart (from one white key to the next adjacent white key). That is approximately four times more closely packed than the keys on a standard piano (standard piano key spacing is approximately 24mm from one white key to the next).
Although not identified as a walkstation, the Yamaha HandySound HS-200 is a similarly sized portable unit that also has a built in speaker.
and walk.
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
that can often be programmed with various musical sequences.
Typically walkstations are small battery powered units with small size keys that are ideal for the smaller hands of young children. For example, the MU15 has a keyboard with keys that are approximately 6 mm apart (from one white key to the next adjacent white key). That is approximately four times more closely packed than the keys on a standard piano (standard piano key spacing is approximately 24mm from one white key to the next).
Although not identified as a walkstation, the Yamaha HandySound HS-200 is a similarly sized portable unit that also has a built in speaker.
Etymology
The term was coined by Yamaha to build upon the Walkman phenomenon started by Sony. "Walkstation" is a portmanteau of workstationMusic workstation
A music workstation is an electronic musical instrument providing the facilities of:*a sound module,*a music sequencer and* a musical keyboard.It enables a musician to compose electronic music using just one piece of equipment.-History:...
and walk.
Examples of walkstations
- Yamaha MU5
- Yamaha MU10 (early walkstation, no display)
- Yamaha MU15 (early walkstation, with display)
- Yamaha MU20, half-rack unit, 1995
- Yamaha QY8 (early walkstation, only has 8 MIDI channels, 1994); Owner's manual
- Only responds to MIDI channels 1-7 and channel 10. Only responds to velocity on (not velocity off); does not respond to aftertouch.
- Yamaha QY10Yamaha QY10The Yamaha QY10 is a hand-held music workstation produced by the Yamaha Corporation in the early 1990s. Possessing a MIDI sequencer, a tone generator and a tiny single-octave keyboard, the portable and battery-powered QY10 enables a musician to compose music while traveling.-History:Released by...
(early walkstation, only had 8 MIDI channels) - Yamaha QY22 (early walkstation, it had only 8 MIDI channels)
- Yamaha QY70, received on all 16 MIDI channels
- Yamaha QY100 (modern walkstation, 2001)
- Yamaha QY10
- Roland PMA-5 (Personal Music Assistant with touch screen)